Omaha daily bee., 1887-08-06

The defeat of prohibition in Texas Is
far more complete than any but the most
sanguine of its opponents had expected,
and must prove exceedingly dishearten-
ing to the Jealous and hopeful laborers
In that cause who believed, upon what
appeared to be good grounds. that vic.
tory would crown their efforts. The ma
jorty against the amendment may reach
fifty thousand, but if 1t is olly half that
number the defeat is signal after such
campaign as the prohibitionists waged,
with some of the ablest men OF the state,
regardless of their political affiliations,
marshaled on their side. 1t was one of
those supreme struggles which in
volve in large degree the very
vitality and future hope of
the aggressive party, and while
it must not be supposed that prohibition
will cease to live and hope in Texas, the
cause has received check from which
1t will not speedily recover, and its future
efforts will be confronted by greater diff.
ticulties. The thoroughly earnest de-
votees of the cause will doubtless remain
faithful and continue to labor for it with
undiminished zeal, but there are thous.
ands who have been drawn to its support
by one influence and another, quite inde-
pendent of any real faith or conviction,
who will withdraw from the alliance, not
to be again easily induced to enter into
it. Thus the strength of prohibition as
shown in the voting will be very ma
terially reduced, with the proba-
bilities against 1t being able
to replace those who now fall
out OF line by new accessons. We're
prohibition accomplishing what is
claimed for it in localities where it pre-
walls and has been given fair trial. one
defeat would not be serious. But the ar
gument Of experience and indisputable
facts is most forcibly on the side of the
opposition that prohibition does not pro-
hibit, and its effect upon the popular
mind is likely to be increased by defeat
A great many people who were not un-
willing that the experiment should be
tried will not regret the failure when re-
minded that its trial elsewhere has
proved wholly unsatisfactory, and all
such will have no furthes interest on
behalf of the cause. For these
and other Obvious reasons the de.
feat of prohibition in Texas is likely to
prove we'll nigh disastrous to the cause
in that state, and very damaging to it in
the other southern states where it is
being aggressively pushed.
A variety of reasons for the defeat will
not be wanting. Very likely the colored
voters, who had the balance of power,
were more. susceptible to the opposition
than to the prohibition influence. There
was undoubtedly great deal of money
| used at the last moment. and il is to be
| supposed that the antl.prohibitlonists
| knew where and now to employ it to the
best advantage. 1t is not unlikely, also,
that the letter of jeff DAVIS,
which was freely hawked about
by the nti-prohibltonists, ex-
erted a very considerable influence
Senator Reagan became less hopeful
after the appearance of this letter, which
| he said would cost the cause many thou
sand votes. 1t will doubtless be claimed
by the prohibitionists that this was one
| of the most effective influence against
them. But explanations, however plaus-
ible, will really do little toward relieving
the defeat of consequences which will
| put very formidable distractions in the
! way of future prohibition efforts in
| Tpyo,